Teaching The Catechism

I am privileged to be able to support Rev. James May and Lutherans in Africa, the purpose of which is to equip African Lutherans in various countries to teach the faith to their own people.  In his recent Newsletter Rev. May describes the situation in the country of Togo:

"Even though there are not enough catechisms for all the members of the Lutheran church of Togo (in fact we were only able to print enough for the pastors) the pastors decided to make themselves available 3-4 times per week to sit with the confirmands who came to the church. The pastor would recite the catechism and the confirmands would repeat after the pastor over and over again until they put the Word of God to heart (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). In three months, nine confirmand students memorized the entire Ten Commandments with their explanations AND the Apostles’ Creed with its explanations, and they did it without their own personal copy of the catechism! So often I have heard that memorizing the catechism is too hard and cannot be done, but I never told the Togolese that Americans say it is too hard. They did it because they want to have the Word of God in their minds and hearts so that even if they are far off without a bible, they will know the promises of God."

(The rest of the August 2011 newsletter article can be found here)

How wonderful that these people so long to hear and learn the Word of God and the promises contained therein that they devote themselves to memorization of the Catechism.  No one forces them, it’s not simply a hoop they must jump through during 7th and 8th grade, they simply long for it.  Yet, among us, the Catechism, the learning of God’s Word, preparation for the Sacrament, is so easily disregarded.

We must heed Luther’s warning:

“Now, whoever does not highly value the Sacrament shows that he has no sin, no flesh, no devil, no world, no death, no danger, no hell.  In other words, he does not believe any such things, although he is in them up over his head and his ears and is doubly the devil's own.  On the other hand, he needs no grace, no life, no paradise, no heaven, no Christ, no God, nor anything good. For if he believed that he had so much evil around him, and needed so much that is good, he would not neglect the Sacrament, by which such evil is remedied and so much good is bestowed.  Nor would it be necessary to force him to go to the Sacrament by any law.  He would come running and racing of his own will, would force himself, and beg that you must give him the Sacrament.

Preface to the Small Catechism

Yes, let’s run and race to the sacrament!  Let’s force and beg to receive it!  For the sacrament in nothing else than Jesus.  This we can never have enough!

Thanks for reading.

Previous posts on the Catechism:

Low Expectations?

Catechetical Manure

The Catechism Isn't Just For Fun